BTW

A quick snap of my wee tray this evening...some lovely lampwork from Julie Fountain of Lush Lampwork, some vintage glass Czech rondelles, a bracelet I made earlier today and lastly (and very excitingly!) some lampwork headpins from Kerry Bogert! I was so thrilled when they were waiting for me when I got home from college today :-) I've already used one in the bracelet I made - I'll try and take a better pic tomorrow. What's on your bead table today?

Silk Bracelets

So, how's 2011 going for everybody? Ok so far? I went back to school on Friday and had a beading class this morning so everything's getting back to normal...We took down the Christmas tree last night which is always a sad event. The spot where is stood looks so empty! Poor wee Maisie rabbit was bereft - she scampered around the place where the tree had been looking very puzzled. However, the festive period isn't totally over for me - tonight is our friends Andrew and Tom's Winter Wonderland Extravaganza! They have a big formal dinner for their close friends every year after Christmas and we all exchange presents, eat turkey and drink lots of pink fizz! I was poorly last year and missed out so I must say, I am really looking forward to tonight.

I've done loads of beading these past few days - a kind of last minute reaction against all my free time being eaten up as of Monday when I'm back to college and work full time! Here are some of this weeks results - all available in my Folksy shop. As you can see, I've completely fallen in love with the silk cord I've been using, from Sowzere Designs and I think it goes perfectly with Julie's Lush Lampwork beads, which I've used in the top two bracelets. Poisoned Apple features beads from Loupiac - they have a gorgeous silvery sheen to them. Let me know what you think! Hope you're all having a peaceful weekend. 

Apples and Pears

Coral Island

Poisoned Apple

Wirework

SO, you thought I was going to let this blog slide again? Never fear, I'm back after a couple of weeks off...I kept meaning to blog but didn't really have much to say! And more to the point, I didn't have any photos to post. I am RUBBISH at taking pictures. I'm not really a happy snapper, it all seems like a bit of an effort for often a very poor result. But tonight I got my wee Olympus out and took some pics of some new pieces I made over the past few days. Because we all know blogs are really all about the pictures...

I decided that my big stash of lampworks really deserved to be turned into some jewellery.

Pixiewillow

The CUTE pewter birdie is from Mamacita Beadworks. And guess what? He's a songbird. Or is he a she?

Sarah Downton

(I just couldn't get a good picture of the lampwork bead in this bracelet. And I'm not sure it works too well with my new music background and I've used so many transparent and delicate beads. But here it is all the same! Check out the beads here.)

Clare Scott
(Again, not the best lampwork pic. I need better light! But you know, you've seen my other picture of this one, right?)

Lush Lampwork
(This is going to be a necklace. I just need some co-ordinating chain to complete.)

So, what do you think? I really like my 'ye olde notation' backdrop but perhaps just for darker/more vibrant pieces. And I so need a lightbox or just to be organised and take pics in the 2 minutes of sunshine we seem to get a day here in Manchester *sigh*. We're currently house hunting and I am obsessed with figuring out directions and angles and which way the sun moves around each flat/house that we look at - not just for picture purposes of course, also because it affects my mood so much. Any one else the same, have a touch of SAD?! N.B. Where it says 'winter depression' read 'all-year-round depression' for Manchester! We don't get the best of weather. At least I have my beads to cheer me up!